Drinking cup with straw ($26.95 for a 2 pack)

Luckily, the only surgery I’ve ever had in my life was an appendectomy. I still remember most of the incident with surprising clarity. I’d been experiencing intense pain in my side for about sixteen hours though I somehow had managed to drive from Austin, Texas to my house in Houston during the last three of those hours. Once I arrived home, I made some soup, took a spoonful, and was met with a scary feeling in my insides and the overwhelming realization that something was very wrong. So I called 911 and they sent an ambulance.

Another eighteen or so hours later, my appendix had burst and I was undergoing emergency laparoscopic surgery to have it removed. While laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than an incision (and doesn’t leave a huge abdomen scar), my appendix had burst before the doctor could take it out and I was in the hospital for a full week after. I remember the overwhelming pain in my body’s core and that I had a difficult time sitting and standing up for the first week. I watched a lot of television (mainly episodes of "Law and Order" and "Criminal Minds") in my hospital room.

After I returned home, it took another couple of weeks until I started to feel normal. The best gifts for someone who has just had an appendectomy are those that help ease the pain so that they can rest and recover.

Linen Spa bed rest and reading pillow

I’ve always loved reading pillows – or pillows with arms as I usually call them. They’re great for propping you up in bed or on the floor in comfort. This one from Linen Spa has excellent back and shoulder support. It's filled with shredded memory foam so that it keeps its loft and shape longer without clumping while molding to your body shape.

These pillows do arrive compressed and flat so if you’re purchasing one for someone who has just undergone surgery, make sure you unpack and (vigorously) fluff the pillow into shape for them.

Staying hydrated is always important, even more so when you’re recovering from surgery. This handled cup with straw and lid makes it easy to drink even when you have trouble sitting up all the way while in bed.

These double-walled, dishwasher-safe, and BPA-free mugs include an 11” long flexible straw. You can buy them in packages of one, two, or three. And the measurement markings help you keep track of your fluid intake.

After my surgery, the doctor gave me a photo of my burst appendix taken inside my body. I have no idea if this is a common practice and anyone I’ve ever told about this thinks it's pretty odd. So in lieu of that, here’s a cute, stuffed, plush appendix that makes for a much cuddlier (and less gross) gift. It also includes an educational information card with facts about the appendix.

You can also buy appendix lapel pins. And yes, I still have that photo of my appendix somewhere.

A folding bed desk makes it easy to read, eat, and work or play on your laptop while still reclining and resting in bed or on the couch.

This one from Cooper Cases comes with a tablet groove where you can prop your Kindle, iPad or other tablets, a phone stand, a book holder with fold-out legs, and a storage drawer. There’s enough room under the table to cross your legs if you want without jostling and the entire thing folds flat when not in use.

If you get (or receive) one of these you’ll probably end up using it long after you’ve recovered from surgery.

Recovering in bed means lots of time for reading and one of the best ways to read these days is on a Kindle. Kindles didn’t exist yet when I had my appendix out and while I did have some books to read, it would have been extraordinary to be able to read pretty much any book I wanted on a thin, lightweight device.

As a longtime reader, I consider the Kindle one of the best things ever invented. As most people already know, the Kindle connects to the internet where you can search and purchase almost any book. With a Kindle Unlimited membership, you can read and listen (via Audible) to as many books and magazines as you want.

Heating pack/hot water bottle

Recovering from an appendectomy includes a good deal of pain management, especially during the first week. Even though my surgery was laparoscopic, meaning the surgeon went in through a tiny incision near my belly button, having an organ sucked out of your insides causes a lot of disruption in your gut.

As well as taking whatever pain medication is recommended by the doctors, a nice, cozy hot water bottle can bring some relief to a sore, healing abdomen. This one from Qomfor has a soft, faux fur cover and a large 1.8-liter capacity.

Both the leak-proof bottle and cover are designed to retain heat and remain warm for hours. And they’re baby and kid-safe without any toxic materials. Fill with hot (not boiling) water by using a measuring cup or tea kettle.

I’m a person who always has a blanket or throw of some kind around when lounging, recovering, or relaxing. A cozy blanket is a great gift for someone spending time in a hospital room recovering as it’s functional and provides some personalization to a bland hospital room.

I’m partial to cotton blankets like these colorful, lightweight knitted ones from Treely. These soft blankets are a perfect throw size of 50 inches by 60 inches and are machine washable on a gentle cycle (do not dry).

I also like Eddie Bauer’s reversible flannel, Sherpa blankets in the winter months, or if your hospital room is especially chilly.

While most anyone recovering from appendix surgery would enjoy any of these gifts, remember that the best one you can probably give is an in-person visit if you’re able. I’d also like to take this opportunity to shout out the surgeon (I wish I could remember his name) at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Houston, Texas who not only removed my navel ring but also put it back in after my appendectomy. I wish everyone as good of a surgical experience as I had – if you must have one.